Is there any way to turn on airplane mode for one line without disabling the phone number entirely?

[Faize]

I’m currently traveling. Having both my home SIM (which has a roaming block) as well as the travel SIM enabled at the same time is leading to “no cell coverage” draining over 50% of my battery life.

Is there any way I can get my phone to stop trying to find an impossible signal without disabling the SIM entirely? Annoyingly, services like iMessage are tied to phone number so turning it off leads to those services failing outright, even if the phone has an internet connection via other means.

 

[Fred Zed]

I’m currently traveling. Having both my home SIM (which has a roaming block) as well as the travel SIM enabled at the same time is leading to “no cell coverage” draining over 50% of my battery life.

Is there any way I can get my phone to stop trying to find an impossible signal without disabling the SIM entirely? Annoyingly, services like iMessage are tied to phone number so turning it off leads to those services failing outright, even if the phone has an internet connection via other means.

No. That’s why it’s an issue when in a foreign country and the cell signal keeps searching when no roaming is available.

 

[Faize]

No. That’s why it’s an issue when in a foreign country and the cell signal keeps searching when no roaming is available.

I'm kinda surprised that Apple never fixed this considering how long eSIM and multi-SIM have been available on iPhones for, but nonetheless, thanks for confirming that the issue is with the phone rather than my not knowing how to use the phone 🤣

 

[Fred Zed]

I'm kinda surprised that Apple never fixed this considering how long eSIM and multi-SIM have been available on iPhones for, but nonetheless, thanks for confirming that the issue is with the phone rather than my not knowing how to use the phone 🤣

No worries. I found this out when I was overseas a few years ago. Figured I’d be ok just with WiFi calling and a local eSIM. However my regular eSIM would be searching all the time. Only choice I had was to turn the line off. I couldn’t select airplane mode or such for line 1. I think Android allows you do this.

 

[laserfan]

Really? That's sorta crazy assuming you guys are right. I look at my new 16 Pro and under Settings > Cellular and it shows my carrier SPECTRUM and a selection "Turn On This Line" (which is ON) and then a succeeding area with only an "Add eSIM" button there. So I might have ASSumed if I got a 2nd line that it would have a similar set of options to my SPECTRUM namely "Turn On..." (and Wi-Fi Calling and Calls on Other Devices and Carrier Services and SIM PIN and Delete eSIM). And that I could turn either one-or-both OFF as I might see fit. No?

 

[Fred Zed]

Really? That's sorta crazy assuming you guys are right. I look at my new 16 Pro and under Settings > Cellular and it shows my carrier SPECTRUM and a selection "Turn On This Line" (which is ON) and then a succeeding area with only an "Add eSIM" button there. So I might have ASSumed if I got a 2nd line that it would have a similar set of options to my SPECTRUM namely "Turn On..." (and Wi-Fi Calling and Calls on Other Devices and Carrier Services and SIM PIN and Delete eSIM). And that I could turn either one-or-both OFF as I might see fit. No?

I believe the issue is explained on these links. The line with no “cell bars” drains battery. Personally when I’m overseas, I always roam but turn of cellular data on my USA line. This gives me the ability to receive sms text and voice calls and I use the local eSIM as primary and data line.

OP might be able to select a network / carrier overseas manually so that his/her iPhone at least latches onto a carrier to prevent battery drain.

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[MikeTaku]

I’m currently traveling. Having both my home SIM (which has a roaming block) as well as the travel SIM enabled at the same time is leading to “no cell coverage” draining over 50% of my battery life.

Is there any way I can get my phone to stop trying to find an impossible signal without disabling the SIM entirely? Annoyingly, services like iMessage are tied to phone number so turning it off leads to those services failing outright, even if the phone has an internet connection via other means

I think you can enable Airplane Mode and then manually turn on Wi-Fi to stop your phone from searching for a signal while still using iMessage. Alternatively, disable Data Roaming and LTE/5G for the home SIM to reduce battery drain without fully deactivating it.